Causes and Symptoms of Asthma
Having asthma is a very serious condition and there are many things that you can do to help prevent it from happening in the first place. Some of the most common causes of asthma are cigarette smoke, polluted air, and smoking. There are also many treatments that you can use to help relieve the symptoms and prevent asthma from coming back.
Symptoms
Symptoms of asthma vary from person to person, but the most common are chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. Symptoms can be mild or severe. They can be caused by environmental factors or by your body’s response to an allergen.
You might also experience shortness of breath, which is a feeling that you are not getting enough air. You may also have a tight chest and feel like you’re in pain.
Asthma can be caused by several factors, including allergens, smoke, and secondhand smoke. It’s important to recognize these triggers to keep your asthma under control.
If you experience these symptoms, it’s important to get medical help right away. In severe cases, asthma can be life-threatening. In addition to medical treatment, you may need to take medications to relieve your symptoms.
Many children and adults with asthma suffer from recurring asthma attacks, which are often worse at night. If your asthma is triggered by exercise or other environmental factors, you should avoid those activities.
Asthma can be treated and can sometimes go away completely. However, it is important to keep your asthma under control to avoid severe asthma attacks. Asthma attacks are not uncommon and can be life-threatening if they’re not treated right away.
When you have an asthma attack, you may cough with phlegm. You may also experience a whistling sound, called wheezing. You can hear this sound from a medical person or non-medical person.
Young children may also have frequent colds, which can lead to asthma. Older adults can also have an asthma attack as a result of a bacterial infection.
In addition to allergies and environmental factors, asthma can be caused by a family history of allergies. If you have a family member with asthma, you have an increased risk of developing the condition yourself.
Treatments
Managing asthma requires a multi-pronged approach, including controlling asthma triggers, tracking your symptoms, and taking asthma medicines. If your asthma isn’t responding to your current medications, you may need to try a new treatment.
Inhaled bronchodilators help relax muscles in the airways, making them less sensitive to allergens and increasing airflow. They work for at least 12 hours and may be taken more than two days a week.
Other medicines work on the immune system to reduce inflammation in the airways. These medicines are used to treat asthma triggered by airborne allergens. They can be taken by injection, under the skin, or by IV infusion.
These medications work on the mast cells, which are immune cells in the connective tissue. They trigger signaling proteins in the body that can trigger asthma symptoms.
These medicines are given as an infusion or shot every couple of weeks or months. They’re typically used for people with severe asthma. They can also be taken orally. However, long-term use can lead to bone loss and cataracts.
Bronchodilator medications, also known as long-term control medicines, work to reduce inflammation in the airways. They can be used in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid. They may also be used to treat asthma during times of stress.
Short-acting beta-agonists are used to treat asthma. They help open airways, decrease inflammation, and relieve symptoms. They’re available in tablet, aerosol spray, and HFA aerosol spray forms.
Biologic asthma drugs, also called biologics, target specific molecules in the body that trigger inflammation. They’re usually used for severe asthma and are given as an injection, under the skin, or by IV. They can be expensive, so they’re often used only when other medicines don’t work.
Prevention
During early childhood, respiratory infections cause inflammation in the lungs and damage the lung tissue. Asthma is one of the major respiratory diseases. It is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
While asthma is a chronic disease, it can be managed by lifestyle changes and medication. If you or a loved one is asthmatic, it is important to know the warning signs of an asthma attack. Also, it is important to know how to prevent asthma.
The best way to prevent asthma is by avoiding air pollution. This includes indoor and outdoor air pollutants. You should also be aware of air quality forecasts and monitor your air quality. Outdoor air pollution includes factories, cars, and leafblowers. It is important to avoid places where people smoke.
The United States is home to about 25 million people with asthma. In 2017, asthma attacks resulted in about 1.6 million emergency room visits.
Racial and ethnic disparities in asthma remain prevalent. In the United States, asthma mortality rates are higher among people of color.
Racial-ethnic disparities in asthma may be due to factors that are both genetic and environmental. Identifying these factors and translating them into public health policy is key to reducing asthma disparities.
Racial-ethnic disparities can be reduced by implementing prevention programs that target the major risk factors for asthma. These include tobacco smoke, occupational dust, and other indoor and outdoor air pollutants. A primary prevention program should start as early as pregnancy.
Identifying at-risk children should be based on a family history of allergies. A history of allergy can indicate whether or not a child is at high risk for developing asthma.
Triggers
Several types of respiratory viral infections may trigger asthma exacerbations in susceptible individuals. These infections commonly result in hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and asthma attack symptoms.
Symptoms of asthma can also be triggered by irritants and allergens. The most common respiratory viral infections are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and enterovirus. Symptoms usually resolve in 1 to 2 weeks.
Indoor irritants include cigarette smoke, wood-burning stoves, and mold spores. The indoor environment should be kept clean. It is best to use a dust mask when cleaning. The use of a damp cloth may also help clear the air of dust.
Asthma may also be triggered by seasonal allergens. Pollen is a common allergen that is drawn into the air when the weather is warm and humid. The pollen season runs from late March through September. During these months, asthmatics should avoid exercising outdoors.
Pet allergens, particularly cats and dogs, can also cause asthma exacerbations. These allergens can be present in nearly any home. They are often found in trace amounts. When a person is allergic to a pet, their symptoms can develop within minutes.
Inhaled irritants, such as smoke, can also cause asthma attacks. The best way to prevent asthma attacks is to identify your triggers and eliminate them.
Asthma can be controlled by taking medication and making changes in your lifestyle. The most important thing to remember is to ask your doctor about avoiding asthma triggers. Ask him or her to update your asthma action plan annually.
Some people have found that certain foods can trigger asthma symptoms. If you are sensitive to certain foods, you should ask your doctor about allergy testing.
Incidence in racial and ethnic minority groups
Despite being less common, asthma is a disease that disproportionately affects minority children. Asthma mortality rates in certain minority groups are significantly higher than in whites. It is unclear if this is due to genetics, environmental factors, or parental cultural factors. In addition, socioeconomic factors may contribute to the asthma epidemic.
Asthma is more common in low-income families. Children from families in poverty are also more likely to use emergency departments for asthma management. Several studies have shown that air pollutants can drive asthma exacerbations.
Asthma is also more common among American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. A recent study analyzed data from over 9000 individuals from all over the United States. The authors found that persons with AI/AN had the highest asthma prevalence.
Racial differences in asthma are often attributed to socioeconomic status (SES). However, it is difficult to determine whether SES factors account for asthma differences. Some studies have found that asthma prevalence is higher among lower-income groups, while others have found higher asthma prevalence among higher-income groups. The SES effect on asthma may be mediated by unmeasured environmental factors, such as parental psychological factors.
In addition, some studies have shown that certain ethnic groups may have inaccurate asthma control. Studies have also shown that asthma is more common among certain ethnic groups, especially those living in high-poverty areas. Moreover, there is evidence that some minority groups may have less access to preventive care and subspecialists. This may contribute to asthma-related morbidity and mortality.
One study found that asthma-related emergency department visits are two to five times higher in blacks than in whites. Similarly, a study found that asthma-related hospital stays are also significantly higher among blacks.
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